We are testing a new beta website for gov.scot go to new site Creating Health Team Area 3E St Andrew's House 1 Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG Email: CreatingHealthTeam@gov.scot Following recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), Scottish Government advice on vitamin D for all age groups has been updated as follows: From 6 months to 1 year Infants from 6 months to one year of age, whether exclusively or partially breastfed, should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5-10 micrograms vitamin D. Babies fed infant formula should not be given a vitamin D supplement unless they are receiving less than 500 mls (about a pint) of formula a day because formula is fortified with vitamin D and no other supplementation is required. * The Scottish Government is also considering advice for infants aged 0-6 months. We will update our advice for this age group shortly. Ages 1 – 4 years Children aged 1-4 years of age should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms vitamin D. Ages 5 years and above Everyone age 5 years and above, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and population groups at risk of deficiency, should consume 10 micrograms of vitamin D/day.
General Recommendations Since vitamin D is found in only a small number of foods, it might be difficult to get enough from foods alone. Therefore, everyone, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D. Between April and September, the majority of people aged 5 years and above will probably obtain sufficient vitamin D from sunlight when they are outdoors. They might choose not to take a vitamin D supplement during these months. The current guidance on sun exposure should be followed:. 10–15 minutes of unprotected Scottish sun exposure is safe for all. Once sunscreen is correctly applied, vitamin D synthesis is blocked. Staying in the sun for prolonged periods without the protection of sunscreen increases the risk of skin cancer. Some population groups (with very little or no sunshine exposure) will not obtain enough vitamin D from sunlight and are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency. People from these groups should take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms vitamin D throughout the year.
They are: people who are seldom outdoors such as frail or housebound individuals and those who are confined indoors e.g. in institutions such as care homes people who habitually wear clothes that cover most of their skin while outdoors. people from minority ethnic groups with dark skin such as those of African, African-Caribbean and South Asian origin might not get enough vitamin D from sunlight in summer so they should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms vitamin D throughout the year. given the uncertainty of consistent sunshine in Scotland and the risks of exposing infants 0-6 months to the sun it may be advisable for pregnant and lactating women to take a daily supplement throughout the year. The full SACN report Vitamin D and Health is available here Vitamin D – Key facts Vitamin D is essential for good bone health. Vitamin D deficiency can cause Rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. For more information on Rickets and Osteomalacia visit http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rickets/pages/introduction.aspx We get vitamin D from sunlight and some foods The majority of us get most of the vitamin D we need from sunlight.
Vitamin D is found in a small number of foods but it is very difficult to get enough vitamin D from food alone. Sunbeds are not a recommended source of vitamin D. Supplements Single vitamin D supplements are widely available to buy from major supermarkets, health food stores and high street pharmacies. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a child under 4 years of age, and are eligible for Healthy Start, you are entitled to free vitamin supplements. More information is available here. The current Healthy Start vitamin tablets for pregnant and lactating women contain the correct dosage. From Spring 2017, free vitamins, which include vitamin D, will be available to all pregnant women in Scotland. The current Healthy Start drops for children contain 7.5 micrograms in the recommended 5 drops per day. Parents are advised not to become concerned and continue to give this dose until the current vitamin drops are replaced by the increased dosage drops. Further advice is available from your Health professional (Midwife, Health Visitor or Doctor).
Leaflets are available explaining the benefits of getting enough vitamin D and advice on supplementation: General Public Health Professionals Page updated: Monday, February 20, 2017 Dietary Supplement: Vitamin D3 Allocation: RandomizedIntervention Model: Parallel AssignmentMasking: Open LabelPrimary Purpose: Prevention Maternal Oral Vitamin D Supplementation Via Daily or Monthly Regimens and the Effect on Levels of Vitamin D in Human Milk and Infant Serum Genetics Home Reference related topics: Drug Information available for: Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center resources: The number of days of detectable milk vitamin D concentrations [ Time Frame: 28 days ] Infant serum 25(OH)D concentration [ Time Frame: 28 days ] August 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) Experimental: Vitamin D 150,000 units once Experimental: Vitamin D 5000 units daily Ages Eligible for Study: 1 Month to 50 Years (Child, Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study: Currently lactating mothers at least 18 years of age Willing to continue exclusively breastfeeding their infant throughout the study interval The infant is 1-6 months of age at the beginning of the study Willing and able to participate in all aspects of the study Mother and infant are in good health, as determined by the study investigator Have been provided with, understand, and have signed the informed consent for themselves and their child. Have recently travelled (within the preceding 30 days) or plan to travel south of 35 degrees north latitude during the study interval Have recently or plan to engage in indoor tanning Are currently taking medications that affect vitamin D metabolism, like steroids, anticonvulsants, or barbiturates Are nursing multiple infants (e.g. twins) Are taking greater than the daily recommended intake of 1000 mg elemental calcium as calcium supplements Are taking greater than the standard daily dose of 400 IU of vitamin D found in prenatal vitamins
Infant weight below 1.67 kg Mothers with baseline 25(OH)D levels >70 ng/ml, and/or infants with baseline 25(OH)D levels >70 ng/ml History of kidney stones Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies. Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01240265 Mayo Clinic in Rochester Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905 Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number): Oberhelman SS, Meekins ME, Fischer PR, Lee BR, Singh RJ, Cha SS, Gardner BM, Pettifor JM, Croghan IT, Thacher TD. Maternal vitamin D supplementation to improve the vitamin D status of breast-fed infants: a randomized controlled trial.